A tough early test? UK basketball schedules exhibition game against NCAA champs in Rupp.

Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats could be in for a sturdy test before their 2024-25 season officially begins.

UK will host NCAA Division II national champion Minnesota State Mankato in Rupp Arena on Oct. 29 for one of the Cats’ two exhibition games in preparation for Pope’s first season as head coach. MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler confirmed the matchup Monday morning.

Minnesota State Mankato had a 35-2 record and won the NCAA DII championship last season. The team’s top scorer and assists leader, Malik Willingham, and top rebounder and shot blocker, Dylan Peeters, played their final seasons of college basketball in 2023-24, but the Mavericks are expected to return some key players from their title run.

Margenthaler signed a five-year contract extension after the season. He has been the team’s head coach since 2001.

UK’s game against Minnesota State Mankato will take place six days before the official season opener against Wright State on Nov. 4 in Rupp Arena. That will be Pope’s first game as the Wildcats’ head coach after replacing John Calipari in April. Calipari took the top job at Arkansas after spending the past 15 seasons in Lexington.

Kentucky’s nonconference schedule has already been released, with games against Duke, Gonzaga, Clemson, Ohio State, Louisville and Western Kentucky among the highlights. The Cats will begin SEC play Jan. 4, and while the matchups for the 18-game conference schedule have been set, the dates and locations have not yet been finalized.

‘He can do all of it.’ Andrew Carr brings all-around skill to Mark Pope’s first UK team.

UK basketball has had just one NBA Rookie of the Year. Will Reed Sheppard be the second?

After a slow start, Kentucky’s alumni team keeps the homecoming going with another TBT win

Former UK basketball stars win in their TBT return to Rupp. ‘Such a good feeling.’

‘That’s my boy.’ UK’s Sheppard, Dillingham meet in NBA Summer League. Here’s how it went.

The No. 1 player in the 2026 class is from Louisville. Mark Pope is recruiting him to UK.